Loading & Shipment Safety

BNSF has solid processes in place to help you with your loading and shipment safety needs, including the following areas:

• CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE
  Safe shipping begins with a balanced load and proper cargo securement. LARS offers a variety of free services to meet customer needs. These services include on-site loading evaluations, loading diagrams, complete ride-quality monitoring programs and more. We want to help ensure that your shipment moves safely from shipping origin to your customer.
• A SAFE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
  The LARS Mission is to help promote a safe transportation network. We work with our customers when it comes to proper loading, securement and weight distribution. We're able to provide on-site training and coordinate test shipments with a new product line. A safe transportation network helps facilitate a fluid transportation cycle.
• RESTRICTED COMMODITY SHIPMENTS
  Special provisions exist for moving restricted commodity shipments. LARS excels at providing loading and securement expertise for restricted commodity shipments, including hazardous materials shipments, in order to help facilitate safe and fluid movement.
• RIDE QUALITY TESTING
  LARS directs a comprehensive ride quality audit program that measures BNSF's handling on our transcontinental system to promote safe and incident-free shipments for our customers. We monitor our train and yard operations, intermodal shipments, cargo-specific handling and new loading method test shipments. This program is unique among Class I Railroads and on-going test results validates BNSF's quality transportation network. Any ride-quality test exceptions are reviewed with the appropriate BNSF team for corrective action.

Obtain generic loading diagrams for some of the more commonly shipped products. Our team is also available to develop a customized loading diagram to meet your needs.

Boxcar Loading Diagrams

Intermodal

Use of BNSF loading and securement methods are restricted to shipments moving on BNSF and approval must be obtained from a BNSF Load and Ride Solutions representative prior to shipping. These methods cover shipments of non-hazardous material commodities, unless otherwise approved. Finally, because BNSF loading methods are not authorized with other rail carriers, it is the shipper's responsibility to get authorization from all carriers in the routing.

How to Manage Overloaded Cars

Loading for Success

Load and Ride Solutions team (LARS)

We host a number of resources that you can use to gather information before you ship your goods. Explore the following links to assist with your Loading and Shipment Safety needs.

• AAR Intermodal Loading Guide
• BNSF Intermodal Loading Guide
• Emergency Response Guidebook
• Equipment Characteristics Tool
• Haz Mat - DOT
• How to Manage Overloaded Cars
• Overloaded Car FAQs
• Railinc Publications
• RAILSAFE
• Reduction/Transload Contractors
• Transportation Technology Center (TTCI)

BNSF's goal is to provide our customers with safe, efficient, damage-free service. However, sometimes transit damage can occur and BNSF's Product Recovery experts are here to investigate and document extent and cause of damage.

Resources

• Boxcar Loading Safety Checklist
• Boxcar Unloading Safety Checklist
• Salvage Pickup Authorization

Contacts

Area	Name	Contact
Report Loss or Damage	Product Recovery LARS	Tel: 800-333-4686,option 1 (answered during normal business hours)

Loss and Damage Reporting

Damage Notification Report

Our loading and shipment safety team focuses on prevention services, whether it's through improved load designs, better application of dunnage materials or better packaging. The key is our partnership with you.

Here's a list of items and information you'll need on hand to get you started.

• Your company name and mailing address
• Contact person and phone number
• Where you are shipping from, the route and type of service
• What you are shipping
• Loading plan (if applicable)

Contacts

Area	Name	Contact
Loading and Shipment Safety	Load and Ride Solutions	Tel: 800-333-4686, Option 1 (answered during normal business hours)
Cargo Claim Information	Cargo Claims	Tel: 800-333-4686, Option 2